Hello Tuesday! Thanks for showing up. It's another swarm start to a summer day, basically a carbon copy of yesterday. (Y'all do remember what a "carbon copy" is I reckon.)
The buffet has been been slow so far this morning but business has picked up in the last fifteen minutes or so. For most of the earlier hours I only had one grackle and one downy woodpecker. Now, the cardinals have arrived along with finches, titmouse, hummingbirds, bluejay, robin and of course life would not be complete without a squirrel or two. My bird baths are really cruddy looking although they birds still drink from it and take their bath in it. But, I need to scrub them out for sure and put fresh water in them.
I need to jump on the John Deere today and mow the yards. My back yard is looking a bit shaggy and the front yard is needing it too. Ms. Kate took the Round-Up to a bunch of grass and weeds the other day and it has really done the job. I know I won't feel like doing much tomorrow afternoon because I have a dentist appointment in the morning to have a root canal done. By the time I get that done and get back home and my mouth un-numbed, it will be time to sit in my recliner for a bit.
Ms. Kate and I talked about going to Louisville today for lunch. I get these offers from her favorite restaurant, PF Chang, and I mentioned maybe going over and taking advantage of it since it is only good for three days. Tomorrow is the last day and with the tooth thing that wouldn't work. But --- I think we will not go. Some how -- doing a 250 mile round trip for a free bowl of noodles that we don't even know we would like suddenly seemed not the smartest thing we could do. And, as I said, we have things to do here today.
I got a call from the pastor of my home church last night asking if I could fill in for him on the 23rd of July. Of course I said "yes". It will be wonderful to be able to to a sermon again. I could easily "go to the well" and pull out a sermon that I've done at some point in the last decade but I've had an idea for a sermon that I have wanted to write for some time now so I need to spend some time on that.
My Weather Channel app says it is still 82 degrees outside and will be going to 93. So, it is time to throw on the jeans and ball cap and get outside and enjoy God's world from the other side of the sunporch windows. Once again I give God praise for a beautiful day and I give thanks for the blessings that surround me. I have a loving family, a home, and good friends. I've been given more grace than I deserve; (I've never deserved any) and my salvation is secure through Jesus Christ. There is nothing more that I need. I pray you will have a most blessed day. Shalomn
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Monday, July 10, 2017
Good morning on this already hot July morning. Well, it isn't terrible yet; it is only 82 degrees, and there is a substantial breeze blowing. But, as we learned in Las Vegas when we lived there, hot temperatures and a breeeze or wind just makes it a giant convection oven. We are supposed to go to the lower nineties today so anything I need to do outside needs to be done this morning before the temp goes up too much.
Blackbirds, Grackels, Starlings, and sparrows are my guests this morning. Except for the sparrows, they are all a rude and nasty bunch of birds. They fuss, they fight, they peck one another in the head, they run other birds off, and they waste food by throwing it on the ground. Luckily they don't stay too long. They come in like a gang doing a smash and grab in a jewelry store, make their mess and leave. In another ten minute or so, the cardinals will be showing up along with the rest of my regulars. Even the squirrels tend to hold off a bit when the blackbirds are here.
July 10th --- the year is moving on isn't it? Ms. Kate and I took a drive around the block Saturday; (well, it was a country block may seventy five miles or so). We wanted some fresh produce so we went to find some. Right now is it great picking for up corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes, green beans, cantaloupe, and watermelon, and squash. This area really produces wonderful produce. It was great to drive through the country back roads and see how the fields of corn and soy beans are growing. Much of field corn is tasseled out and many have ears hanging down already. I recall as a kid that one could walk through the corn rows but these days the rows are so close that it is hard to do that. By the time you got fifty feet in you could easily be lost. It seems as though with the new genetics enhanced crops, the soybeans grow much taller and the wheat grows much shorter. Maybe it is just my perception but I remember the wheat fields waving in the breeze; (Amber waves of grain) but today it hardly gets tall enough to do that. I also remember my dad planting rye in his fields and I haven't heard any of my farmer friends mention planting rye in the last decade or more. I think dad planted it in the late fall and then plowed it under in the spring as a soil enhancement. Today that is all done with chemicals. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw an actual plowed field where the soil was turned over. It is all done differently now. But it obviously works because we saw some really beautiful fields on Saturday.
Well, the bluejays are here, the wooodpeckers are here, and the finches have arrived and the first of the cardinals are sitting on the feeders having a snack. My coffee cup is empty and I must go refill it. I pray God will grant you a pleasant day filled with joys and good thoughts. Peace.
Blackbirds, Grackels, Starlings, and sparrows are my guests this morning. Except for the sparrows, they are all a rude and nasty bunch of birds. They fuss, they fight, they peck one another in the head, they run other birds off, and they waste food by throwing it on the ground. Luckily they don't stay too long. They come in like a gang doing a smash and grab in a jewelry store, make their mess and leave. In another ten minute or so, the cardinals will be showing up along with the rest of my regulars. Even the squirrels tend to hold off a bit when the blackbirds are here.
July 10th --- the year is moving on isn't it? Ms. Kate and I took a drive around the block Saturday; (well, it was a country block may seventy five miles or so). We wanted some fresh produce so we went to find some. Right now is it great picking for up corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes, green beans, cantaloupe, and watermelon, and squash. This area really produces wonderful produce. It was great to drive through the country back roads and see how the fields of corn and soy beans are growing. Much of field corn is tasseled out and many have ears hanging down already. I recall as a kid that one could walk through the corn rows but these days the rows are so close that it is hard to do that. By the time you got fifty feet in you could easily be lost. It seems as though with the new genetics enhanced crops, the soybeans grow much taller and the wheat grows much shorter. Maybe it is just my perception but I remember the wheat fields waving in the breeze; (Amber waves of grain) but today it hardly gets tall enough to do that. I also remember my dad planting rye in his fields and I haven't heard any of my farmer friends mention planting rye in the last decade or more. I think dad planted it in the late fall and then plowed it under in the spring as a soil enhancement. Today that is all done with chemicals. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw an actual plowed field where the soil was turned over. It is all done differently now. But it obviously works because we saw some really beautiful fields on Saturday.
Well, the bluejays are here, the wooodpeckers are here, and the finches have arrived and the first of the cardinals are sitting on the feeders having a snack. My coffee cup is empty and I must go refill it. I pray God will grant you a pleasant day filled with joys and good thoughts. Peace.
Saturday, July 8, 2017
It is a beautiful Saturday morning. I have my cup of coffee beside me, my Bose is playing a little gospel music by the Talley Trio, the sky is cloudless, and it is 74 degrees with a drop in the humidity. Just outside my window five blackbirds are in full battle mode squeaking and pecking at one another over the feeders. They are so busy fighting that they hardly actually eat anything. Silly birds -- there are only nineteen feeders for them to choose from but they would rather maintain territorial dominance. I know some people like that.
I missed writing yesterday but I had an eclectic busy day. I started with an early morning dental appointment to hopefully repair that tooth that I had lost the filling from. I had hope it was going to be a fairly simple procedure because despite the large filling that had fallen out, I was having no pain. I thought that maybe I had already had a root canal done on that tooth. Well -- it turns out that I was just lucky in regards to the pain. Now, I go next Wednesday morning and have a root canal done. Then back to my dentist for a crown. That will shrink my checkbook by about $1800.00. But, I will not complain, My daughter Julie went in to her dentist this week because of some real sensitivity to cold drinks etc and ended up having three extractions because her RA had caused tooth deterioration and exposed the root and nerves. Bless her heart.
After the dentist we went out to lunch with good friend Bob and his daughter Brenda. It was our first out together since his wife Georgia Ann passed. It was good to get him out of the house and back into a familiar and happy memory situation again. His daughter is just an angel and is doing everything she can to help him with his grieving.
Yesterday afternoon then I had an appointment at Best Buy to meet with the technician in order to set up my new laptop that Heather and John bought me. I had already set a lot of it up but I wanted to make sure I had done it correctly andwanted to ask a few questions. What a waste of time that was. When you ask a "technician" a question and his every answer begins with "Well, -- I think" or "I believe", odds are that technician isn't well trained.
To finish up my yesterday, decided that what we really wanted for supper was some good french fries from somewhere, so we went to Penn Station and got an order of fries and an 8" BLT and split it. Thenwe rove across the street to Cold Stone Creamery and finished off the day in good stead.
So today I need to go fill the sunflower seed feeders and then I think we'll head to a farm stand and pick up some corn on the cob, peaches, and a watermelon. That sounds like a good summer thing to do. They have a farm stand set up at our favorite butcher shop so maybe we'll go there and pick up something to put on the grill too.
I hope that your weekend is full of God's grace and love. I hope you take the time to stop and give praise and worship to the God who created you and to the Son of God for insuring your salvation through His sacrifice. Hug your loved ones and speak kindly to strangers. Peace
I missed writing yesterday but I had an eclectic busy day. I started with an early morning dental appointment to hopefully repair that tooth that I had lost the filling from. I had hope it was going to be a fairly simple procedure because despite the large filling that had fallen out, I was having no pain. I thought that maybe I had already had a root canal done on that tooth. Well -- it turns out that I was just lucky in regards to the pain. Now, I go next Wednesday morning and have a root canal done. Then back to my dentist for a crown. That will shrink my checkbook by about $1800.00. But, I will not complain, My daughter Julie went in to her dentist this week because of some real sensitivity to cold drinks etc and ended up having three extractions because her RA had caused tooth deterioration and exposed the root and nerves. Bless her heart.
After the dentist we went out to lunch with good friend Bob and his daughter Brenda. It was our first out together since his wife Georgia Ann passed. It was good to get him out of the house and back into a familiar and happy memory situation again. His daughter is just an angel and is doing everything she can to help him with his grieving.
Yesterday afternoon then I had an appointment at Best Buy to meet with the technician in order to set up my new laptop that Heather and John bought me. I had already set a lot of it up but I wanted to make sure I had done it correctly andwanted to ask a few questions. What a waste of time that was. When you ask a "technician" a question and his every answer begins with "Well, -- I think" or "I believe", odds are that technician isn't well trained.
To finish up my yesterday, decided that what we really wanted for supper was some good french fries from somewhere, so we went to Penn Station and got an order of fries and an 8" BLT and split it. Thenwe rove across the street to Cold Stone Creamery and finished off the day in good stead.
So today I need to go fill the sunflower seed feeders and then I think we'll head to a farm stand and pick up some corn on the cob, peaches, and a watermelon. That sounds like a good summer thing to do. They have a farm stand set up at our favorite butcher shop so maybe we'll go there and pick up something to put on the grill too.
I hope that your weekend is full of God's grace and love. I hope you take the time to stop and give praise and worship to the God who created you and to the Son of God for insuring your salvation through His sacrifice. Hug your loved ones and speak kindly to strangers. Peace
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Good morning to July 6th! Join me as we sit in the sunporch and listen to the patter of rain drops hitting the roof.
I was up too early this morning; it happens that way sometimes. But it gave me a chance to greet my early arrivals at the buffet. Unfortunately, I as there but theyweren't. I turned on the coffee pot and sat down to read my email just as the rain started. It hasn't amounted to much; just some simple showers so far. We are supposed to have this most of the day and maybe even in to tomorrow. I certainly don't mind, we need some rain. And --- the robin is happy and hopping all over the yard as the rain soaks in and drives the earthworms to the surface. Stubby is here and is doing is acrobatic manuevers to eat. He isn't being helped by the fact that the branches are wet, nor are the other squirrels helped by the fact that the metal poles they need to climb are wet. There has been a lot of of jump up and slide back down for a while now.
We stayed home all day yesteday waiting on UPS to deliver my new Microsoft Pro tablet that Heather and John bought me for my birthday. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday but that didn't happen So, we'll wait around here again today and see what happens. They ordered it hrough Best Buy while we were all on vacation. I've received the keyboard but not the tablet. Heather really likes Best Buy and has a good one close to her. On the other hand, I don't buy from them here because I've never heard one good thing said about our local store and I've heard story after story about their poor service and the way they treat their customers. Ms. Kate and I have gone shopping in our local store and our experience generally is that we end up with a salesperson that has been on the job for less than a week and know very little about their store or their products.
My "still need to read" Stephen King books are stacking up beside my chair. Julie bought me two new ones for Father's Day. One of them is a book called Stephen King and Philosophy. I think I will really enjoy that one since I was a Philosophy Minor for my Under Graduate degree. As much as I have enjoyed King's novels over the past thirty years, it will be interesting to maybe get an insight into the worlds he creates in his books. The other book is a book he co-authored with another writer I have not heard of.
So, I guess my rainy day plan is to just do some reading. Ms. Kate is working on creating cards out here in the sunporch. She has so much stuff and so many supplies that she has literally crowded herself out of her office. So, she has expanded for awhile. Bless her little heart.
Tomorrow morning I finally get to go to the dentist off and have something done about my broken tooth. Thank the Lord there has been no pain associated with it other than the sharp edges rubbing against my tongue. I suspect it is going to take a crown which isn't cheap. What broke out was an old silver filling the size if a pea. I'll just be glad to have it taken care of.
Have a wonderful day. Take time to share a hug or two with your friends and share a smile with people you don't know. Life is too short to go through life being a grump. Peace.
I was up too early this morning; it happens that way sometimes. But it gave me a chance to greet my early arrivals at the buffet. Unfortunately, I as there but theyweren't. I turned on the coffee pot and sat down to read my email just as the rain started. It hasn't amounted to much; just some simple showers so far. We are supposed to have this most of the day and maybe even in to tomorrow. I certainly don't mind, we need some rain. And --- the robin is happy and hopping all over the yard as the rain soaks in and drives the earthworms to the surface. Stubby is here and is doing is acrobatic manuevers to eat. He isn't being helped by the fact that the branches are wet, nor are the other squirrels helped by the fact that the metal poles they need to climb are wet. There has been a lot of of jump up and slide back down for a while now.
We stayed home all day yesteday waiting on UPS to deliver my new Microsoft Pro tablet that Heather and John bought me for my birthday. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday but that didn't happen So, we'll wait around here again today and see what happens. They ordered it hrough Best Buy while we were all on vacation. I've received the keyboard but not the tablet. Heather really likes Best Buy and has a good one close to her. On the other hand, I don't buy from them here because I've never heard one good thing said about our local store and I've heard story after story about their poor service and the way they treat their customers. Ms. Kate and I have gone shopping in our local store and our experience generally is that we end up with a salesperson that has been on the job for less than a week and know very little about their store or their products.
My "still need to read" Stephen King books are stacking up beside my chair. Julie bought me two new ones for Father's Day. One of them is a book called Stephen King and Philosophy. I think I will really enjoy that one since I was a Philosophy Minor for my Under Graduate degree. As much as I have enjoyed King's novels over the past thirty years, it will be interesting to maybe get an insight into the worlds he creates in his books. The other book is a book he co-authored with another writer I have not heard of.
So, I guess my rainy day plan is to just do some reading. Ms. Kate is working on creating cards out here in the sunporch. She has so much stuff and so many supplies that she has literally crowded herself out of her office. So, she has expanded for awhile. Bless her little heart.
Tomorrow morning I finally get to go to the dentist off and have something done about my broken tooth. Thank the Lord there has been no pain associated with it other than the sharp edges rubbing against my tongue. I suspect it is going to take a crown which isn't cheap. What broke out was an old silver filling the size if a pea. I'll just be glad to have it taken care of.
Have a wonderful day. Take time to share a hug or two with your friends and share a smile with people you don't know. Life is too short to go through life being a grump. Peace.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
It's the 5th of July and my thoughts go back fifty years today. It was fifty years ago today that our oldest daughter, Julie, was born and was also one of the tests for a young married military couple. I had brought Ms. Kate back to Indiana and she was living with her parents until she could find a place of her own. We had hoped that Ms. Kate would deliver while I was still home in Evansville but that was not to be, She delivered four days after I returned to Yreka California to await shipment overseas to the Philippines for an unaccompanied 18 month tour. Thankfully my unit commander authorized me emergency leave to fly back to Evansville for 15 days so I could see our new baby Julie and be there for her baptism. I had to borrow $125.00 from my parents just to get back to my unit in California. Because of delays in shipment, it would be almost 22 months before I saw Ms. Kate and Julie again and during that time, we had the luxury of only one short phone call. This was 1967-69, decades before social media and unlimited phone service. That one phone call cost us most of a paycheck. Now, deploying troops have instant contact with any and all of their loved ones back home. They can visit as if they were simply across town. I don't mean to diminish the service of our folks today at all. God bless them and I'm thankful for them. But that one phone call that was such a luxury to us, was a blessing that today's young people can't even fathom.
It is a warm and muggy morning. The temperature is 78 degrees and the humidity is already at 86%. We are expecting rain this afternoon. It's great weather for the corn in the fields but not so great to be working outside, especially with asthma. Thankfully I got my mowing done yesterday. I do need to go out and pick tomatoes this morning.
The backyard buffet is a busy place this morning. The cardinals, blackbirds, woodpeckers, wrens, goldfinches, titmouse, and squirrels have all been here at one time or another. The bluebird was here a couple of times too which brightened up my day. I would love it if they would occupy my bluebird house but that hasn't happened. I don't know where they nest. But I'm always glad to see them.
The evening air was full of booms and bangs up until about midnight last night as people fired off their fireworks in celebration of the 4th of July. It is amazing how much money people spend on doing that, especially considering that every town has one or more public fireworks displays. But, it's their business, not mine. I'm just glad I don't have PTSD or a pet to worry about with all of the booms and bangs and the smell of gun powder in the air.
The stargazer lilies are in bloom out in the back yard and I think I will stop here and walk out and smell them. The smell is almost breath taking and they are so very beautiful. They are just another one of God's blessings sitting out there in my yard waiting to be recognized and enjoyed. Until next time, I pray you will have a wonderful week and will feel the wonderful peace that comes from God who loves you so very much. Shalomn.
It is a warm and muggy morning. The temperature is 78 degrees and the humidity is already at 86%. We are expecting rain this afternoon. It's great weather for the corn in the fields but not so great to be working outside, especially with asthma. Thankfully I got my mowing done yesterday. I do need to go out and pick tomatoes this morning.
The backyard buffet is a busy place this morning. The cardinals, blackbirds, woodpeckers, wrens, goldfinches, titmouse, and squirrels have all been here at one time or another. The bluebird was here a couple of times too which brightened up my day. I would love it if they would occupy my bluebird house but that hasn't happened. I don't know where they nest. But I'm always glad to see them.
The evening air was full of booms and bangs up until about midnight last night as people fired off their fireworks in celebration of the 4th of July. It is amazing how much money people spend on doing that, especially considering that every town has one or more public fireworks displays. But, it's their business, not mine. I'm just glad I don't have PTSD or a pet to worry about with all of the booms and bangs and the smell of gun powder in the air.
The stargazer lilies are in bloom out in the back yard and I think I will stop here and walk out and smell them. The smell is almost breath taking and they are so very beautiful. They are just another one of God's blessings sitting out there in my yard waiting to be recognized and enjoyed. Until next time, I pray you will have a wonderful week and will feel the wonderful peace that comes from God who loves you so very much. Shalomn.
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Happy 4th of July!! What a wonderful thing it is to live in a country that is a free nation. What a wonderful thing it is to live in a country that values life, and individual freedoms to the point of defining them as human right. Unfortunately we seem to have lost the desire to search for the common good and expect personal "wants" to be fined as the "right to have". I'm not sure that was what the creators of our Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights had in mind. I suspect our founding fathers would be horrified at what we have done with what they created.
Having said that though --- there is no place in the world that I would rather live than in the United States of America. I can walk out my door and greet my neighbor without fear that they are spying on me. I can go to the church of my choice and worship God and declare my Christianity without fear of being shot down or beheaded. I have the right to vote and choose those I would like to see govern this city or state or country. If they don't do a good job, or at least the job I expected them to do --- I have the right to try to vote them out of office at the next election.
I love the fact that when we go to a grocery store the shelves are full I love the fact that we are a productive nation with good technology and jobs and decent wages. Yes, we have a 4.7 unemployment rate with approximately 63 million people out of work. But --- people still come to this country legally and illegally and they seem to find work. For too many citizens, generationally it has become far easier and more profitable to not work and collect welfare than it is to work. But again, I would not want to live anywhere else.
The buffet has been busy this morning. I went to the two birdfeed stores yestrday and restocked. I picked up another 80# of sunflower seed from Pet Foods and then then a variety of other things from Wild Birds and Things. Wild Birds had a new feeder and pole set up that I'm interested in and I may go buy that today as my birthday present from Ms. Kate.
I hope your day is wonderful and I hope you take the time today to give thanks to Almighty God for the Privilege of being born and raised in this wonderful country. Take time today to also be grateful for the men and women who are not home today because they are standing the line in harm's way somewhere in the world in order to defend our freedom and our nation. God bless you and may God bless America. Shalomn.
Having said that though --- there is no place in the world that I would rather live than in the United States of America. I can walk out my door and greet my neighbor without fear that they are spying on me. I can go to the church of my choice and worship God and declare my Christianity without fear of being shot down or beheaded. I have the right to vote and choose those I would like to see govern this city or state or country. If they don't do a good job, or at least the job I expected them to do --- I have the right to try to vote them out of office at the next election.
I love the fact that when we go to a grocery store the shelves are full I love the fact that we are a productive nation with good technology and jobs and decent wages. Yes, we have a 4.7 unemployment rate with approximately 63 million people out of work. But --- people still come to this country legally and illegally and they seem to find work. For too many citizens, generationally it has become far easier and more profitable to not work and collect welfare than it is to work. But again, I would not want to live anywhere else.
The buffet has been busy this morning. I went to the two birdfeed stores yestrday and restocked. I picked up another 80# of sunflower seed from Pet Foods and then then a variety of other things from Wild Birds and Things. Wild Birds had a new feeder and pole set up that I'm interested in and I may go buy that today as my birthday present from Ms. Kate.
I hope your day is wonderful and I hope you take the time today to give thanks to Almighty God for the Privilege of being born and raised in this wonderful country. Take time today to also be grateful for the men and women who are not home today because they are standing the line in harm's way somewhere in the world in order to defend our freedom and our nation. God bless you and may God bless America. Shalomn.
Monday, July 3, 2017
Monday morning, July 3rd! We are home from our wonderful vacation and all of our kids made it home safely. Now we are all back to reality and looking forward to the next time we caan all get together again. We plan these thing for two years apart and right now 2019 seems so very far away, and I also know the family dynamics with children maturing and finding jobs etc. And --- the family is ready to go somewhere besides Tennessee next time. So, the search starts now. Maybe somethng coastal next time. As long as there is something to do and see besides the ocean rolling in. I will say though, everyone loved the cabin and it's location. There is a lot of stuff to do in the Gatlinburg area. But I suspect that in a couple of years, the like and dislikes of those kind of things will change too. It is amazing how much things that I loved to do five years ago, are either no longer of interest or I've gotten more out of shape and am no longer able to do them. In the year 2019 I'll be 75 years old and my sense of excitement will have changed too.
Of course when I got home all of the bird feeders and bird baths were empty. So, being a good host, I filled all of the feeders and the bird baths before I poured my first cup of coffee. So far this morning, my only steady guests have been the squirrels. I've had one or two Downy Woodpeckers, a robin, a hummingbird and a couple of Goldfinches too but that is all. The word will get out that the buffet is back open and stocked before long.
The phlox, butterfly bush, and geraniums are about all that is blooming these days. All of those are great for drawing in the bees and the butterflies. Our handi-couple, Chris and Cheryl have finished with everything we had on the list. The fence now has two coats of paint on it and looks beautiful. They got all of the bush and tree trimming done and painted the chimney. My back yard now looks like a small park. They really do great work and they are nice people to deal with.
So today, Ms. Kate and I will catch up the laundry and finish putting away stuff from the trip. I'm waiting for the mail to come today because Heather and John bought me a new laptop that is to be delivered today. My afternoon will be spent setting that up.
Tomorrow is the 4th of July. Ms. Kate and I will stay home and fuss about all of the fireworks that will be going off around the neighborhood. It was bad enough last night. We have no desire to get out in the traffic and crowds to go and watch the fireworks shows downtown on the Ohio River. Been there, done that many times. We'll just sit home and enjoy our freedom and give thanks to God that we live in a country that isn't run by an oppressive government. We'll spend the day being grateful for the men and women that have served their country and the many who have died to preserve the freedoms we enjoy. I was honored to be able to spend 32 years dedicating my family's lives to the sacrifices and rigor required for me to be a professional military office. The honest truth is that they sacrificed much more than I did and I love them for it and am grateful to them. I also give thanks to God that unlike so very many of my comrades in arms, I was able to complete my duty without and physical harm. My prayers go out to all of those men and women who come home missing arms and legs and other physical and mental scars and injuries. May God grant them peace.
Have a blessed day./
Of course when I got home all of the bird feeders and bird baths were empty. So, being a good host, I filled all of the feeders and the bird baths before I poured my first cup of coffee. So far this morning, my only steady guests have been the squirrels. I've had one or two Downy Woodpeckers, a robin, a hummingbird and a couple of Goldfinches too but that is all. The word will get out that the buffet is back open and stocked before long.
The phlox, butterfly bush, and geraniums are about all that is blooming these days. All of those are great for drawing in the bees and the butterflies. Our handi-couple, Chris and Cheryl have finished with everything we had on the list. The fence now has two coats of paint on it and looks beautiful. They got all of the bush and tree trimming done and painted the chimney. My back yard now looks like a small park. They really do great work and they are nice people to deal with.
So today, Ms. Kate and I will catch up the laundry and finish putting away stuff from the trip. I'm waiting for the mail to come today because Heather and John bought me a new laptop that is to be delivered today. My afternoon will be spent setting that up.
Tomorrow is the 4th of July. Ms. Kate and I will stay home and fuss about all of the fireworks that will be going off around the neighborhood. It was bad enough last night. We have no desire to get out in the traffic and crowds to go and watch the fireworks shows downtown on the Ohio River. Been there, done that many times. We'll just sit home and enjoy our freedom and give thanks to God that we live in a country that isn't run by an oppressive government. We'll spend the day being grateful for the men and women that have served their country and the many who have died to preserve the freedoms we enjoy. I was honored to be able to spend 32 years dedicating my family's lives to the sacrifices and rigor required for me to be a professional military office. The honest truth is that they sacrificed much more than I did and I love them for it and am grateful to them. I also give thanks to God that unlike so very many of my comrades in arms, I was able to complete my duty without and physical harm. My prayers go out to all of those men and women who come home missing arms and legs and other physical and mental scars and injuries. May God grant them peace.
Have a blessed day./
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